Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano

(Posted on 7/23/13 at 2:09 am)

quote:The Yankees and Cubs are nearing a deal that would send Alfonso Soriano to the New York, according to George A. King III of the New York Post. Soriano is owed roughly $24.9MM over the remainder of his contract (roughly $6.9MM in 2013 and $18MM in 2014), and King reports that the Cubs would pick up the majority of the remaining tab in exchange for a mid-level prospect.

re: Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano (Posted on 7/23/13 at 3:17 am to lighter345)

Will play LF (Wells to spot duty) and the DH once Granderson returns. I just read mid level prospect for Cubs picking up majority of contract. This along with Weols decision goes against what Cashman preached all winter about avoiding luxury tax in foreseeable future.

re: Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano (Posted on 7/23/13 at 4:08 am to MrBlue105)

Yes and no.... The Yankees are an old team without a lot of viable replacements. The top of the rotation has two 40 year olds and CC who is on the wrong side of 30. The line up just isn't good and even the best player (Cano) is over 30.

The farm system a year ago was Top 5 but then some players didn't perform, others got injured, and now that farm system is in low teens/twenties. If some of those former highly ranked prospects bounce back it could bridge the gap. I doubt Yankees collapse like the Mets but I could see them missing playoffs more often over next 5 years till they get younger.

Strength of Yankees over past 15-18 years is they brought up Jeter, Posada, Mo. And Pettite to a team that already had some talent and then signed some veterans (Brosius, Tino, etc) for the positions they didn't have someone in minors for. They also locked up their young stars to expensive contracts.

The Yankees current line up isn't talented enough for a serious WS run and is just treading water hoping the stars return to lift them again.

re: Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano (Posted on 7/23/13 at 5:49 am to JEAUXBLEAUX)

Designating Hafner for assignment isn't a big deal (truth is he hasn't hit since the opening month) I would prefer Yankees keep Hafner rather than pay any portion of Soriano's contract since he is owed 18 million next year and 7 remaining this year (although Yankees may only pay 25% of those two numbers)

re: Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano (Posted on 7/23/13 at 7:38 am to JEAUXBLEAUX)

color me skeptical about how close this deal is. We're not just going to unload sori for just anything and with such an amorphous term as 'mid-level prospect' as all that's been said I have to think the NY side jumped the gun thinking that the cubs are desparate to part with him, which I don't believe to be the case.

ETA: BN makes a good point that mid level could mean mid level in terms of where he's playing (AA) and if he's a good prospect then i'd be more inclined to think they are "close"

re: Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano (Posted on 7/23/13 at 7:40 am to piggidyphish)

They could be doing it for Soriano more than anything, honestly. NY needs help and Soriano wants to win before he retires, so that could be the Cubs motivation. It's not like they'll save money or anything or have a prospect take over LF.

Geauxing for 3Northwestern St. FanTX TigerMember since Mar 20081461 posts

re: Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano (Posted on 7/23/13 at 8:11 am to The Sad Banana)

Cubs open a spot for junior lake and save some cash. Dejesus is coming off the dl and they dont want to send lake down after tearing it up in his short term call up. Great move for the cubs and an even better one for the yanks. Soriano has been solid this year and they wont have to pay him anything.

re: Yankees Close To Acquiring Alfonso Soriano (Posted on 7/23/13 at 8:13 am to The Sad Banana)

quote:It's not like they'll save money or anything or have a prospect take over LF.

The way that Junior Lake has been playing the last few nights, they might be planning on keeping him up for the rest of the season. Went 4-5 last night with an absolute mammoth homerun to dead center, 2 bunt singles and an RBI single late in the game that gave the Cubs a key insurance run. He is in an incredible athlete and looks very comfortable playing in the big leagues. IF Soriano get traded I could see Junior Lake starting the rest of the season. Hell, I could see it even if Sori doesn't get traded.